Dr. Jaime Rivera is a pediatric surgeon, general surgeon, and cancer surgeon. These areas are among Dr. Rivera's clinical interests: diverticular disease, colon cancer, and gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy). He takes Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network, as well as other insurance carriers. His education and training includes medical school at Harvard Medical School and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. He has received professional recognition including the following: American College of Surgeons Resident Research; Fellowship.; and Claude Welch Resident Research Fellowship.. Dr. Rivera (or staff) speaks Spanish. He also offers interpreting services for his patients. Dr. Rivera's hospital/clinic affiliations include Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Beverly Hospital (Beverly, MA), and Union Hospital. He has an open panel.

Dr. David Rattner's specialty is general surgery. Areas of expertise for Dr. Rattner include diverticular disease, barrett's esophagus, and achalasia. Patient reviews placed him at an average of 4.0 stars out of 5. He is an in-network provider for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, Humana ChoiceCare Network, and more. After completing medical school at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he performed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. Awards and/or distinctions Dr. Rattner has received include Boston Super Doctors; Board Of Governors, American College Of Surgeons.; and President Society American Gastrointestinal. He is professionally affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. New patients are welcome to contact Dr. Rattner's office for an appointment.

Dr. Russell Ryan specializes in general surgery and practices in Danvers, MA and Salem, MA. Patient reviews placed him at an average of 2.0 stars out of 5. Areas of expertise for Dr. Ryan include diverticular disease, gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy), and colorectal cancer surgery. Dr. Ryan takes Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network, as well as other insurance carriers. After completing medical school at Weill Cornell Medical College, he performed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. Awards and/or distinctions Dr. Ryan has received include Fellow, American College of Surgeons. and Clinical Instructor Surgery, MGH.. Dr. Ryan (or staff) is conversant in French and Portuguese. Dr. Ryan's professional affiliations include Union Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and NSMC Salem Hospital (Salem, MA). He is open to new patients.

Dr. William Kastrinakis' areas of specialization are pediatric surgery, general surgery, and surgical oncology (cancer surgery); he sees patients in Danvers, MA and Salem, MA. He is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine. He trained at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Georgetown University Hospital for residency. Areas of expertise for Dr. Kastrinakis include pancreas problems, diverticular disease, and melanoma. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Kastrinakis honors. In addition to English, he speaks Greek. His professional affiliations include Union Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Kastrinakis's practice is open to new patients.

Dr. Denise Gee is a specialist in general surgery. She is a graduate of Boston University School of Medicine and a graduate of Boston Medical Center's residency program. Dr. Gee's areas of expertise include diverticular disease and tumor. She accepts several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network. Dr. Gee (or staff) is conversant in Mandarin and Spanish. Dr. Gee is professionally affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. She welcomes new patients.

Dr. Maryam Tabrizi specializes in general surgery, trauma surgery, and critical care (intensive care medicine). In her practice, she is particularly interested in diverticular disease, intensive care, and gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy). Dr. Tabrizi is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine. Her training includes a residency program at a hospital affiliated with the University of Florida Health Science Center. She is in-network for several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network. Dr. Tabrizi has received distinctions including Emmet F. Ferguson Award; Trauma One Award; and Outstanding Resident Educator Award. New patients are welcome to contact Dr. Tabrizi's office for an appointment.

Dr. Jack Elder's medical specialty is pediatric urology. Dr. Elder's education and training includes medical school at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital and a hospital affiliated with Johns Hopkins University. In his practice, he is particularly interested in vesicoureteral reflux, newborn circumcision, and urinary tract infection (UTI). His patients gave him an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Elder honors. Dr. Elder has received the following distinction: Detroit Super Doctors. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Massachusetts General Hospital and Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He is open to new patients.

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What is a Hernia?

A hernia happens when tissue from inside the body pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles, coming through to the front of the body under the skin. Hernias happen most often in the groin area. Some hernias are extremely painful, and some feel numb or do not hurt at all. While most hernias are not an emergency, all hernias require surgery to move the tissue back into the correct place and reinforce the muscle wall.

Hernia surgery can be performed as open surgery, where an incision is made directly over the hernia, or laparoscopically, where several small incisions are made and the surgery is performed using very small tools and cameras in thin flexible tubes. The surgeon simply places the herniated tissue back into place and closes up the muscle. Small hernias may be only sutured or stapled closed, while larger hernias may be reinforced with mesh to prevent future hernias. A hernia surgery is called herniorraphy and a hernia surgery with implanted mesh is called hernioplasty.

Unless a hernia is very large or there are surgical complications, most patients go home from the hospital the same day as their surgery. You will be given specific instructions on how to care for your surgical wound by your medical team. In general, it takes a few days to be back on your feet and two to three weeks to fully recover from hernia surgery. After hernia surgery, it is important to drink lots of water and eat high fiber foods to prevent straining during bowel movements, which may cause pain and pressure at the hernia site. It’s also important to refrain from heavy lifting for several weeks in order to protect the abdominal muscles until they fully heal.